Bethsaida Girl

Popularity: #941 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: beth-SAY-duh //bɛθˈseɪdə//

Origin: Hebrew; Aramaic

Meaning: Hebrew: 'house of fish'; Aramaic: 'place of fishing'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Bethsaida has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the words "beit" meaning "house" and "tsaid" which can be interpreted as "fishing" or "fisherman." Thus, the literal meaning of Bethsaida can be understood as "house of fishing." This name appears in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, specifically in the Gospels, where it is identified as a town located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The Greek form of the name, "Bethsaida," was adopted in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, which contributed to its entry into the English language through biblical texts and translations, including the King James Bible in the early 17th century.

Historically, Bethsaida is significant as it is mentioned as the birthplace of several of Jesus' apostles, including Peter, Andrew, and Philip, which adds to its prominence in Christian tradition. The town is referenced in various biblical accounts, including the miracles performed by Jesus, such as the healing of a blind man.

Archaeological excavations in the 20th century have identified a site believed to be the ancient town of Bethsaida, further solidifying its historical and religious importance. Culturally, Bethsaida symbolizes themes of community and sustenance, particularly in relation to fishing and the livelihood of those living by the Sea of Galilee.

The name has been associated with notions of faith and divine providence, reflecting the biblical narratives that emphasize the miraculous events that took place in this locale. While diminutive forms or variations of the name are less common, the historical resonance of Bethsaida continues to evoke a sense of place tied to early Christian history and the life of Jesus.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Bethsaida, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Bethsaida. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Bethsaida was first seen in the United States in 1957.

Bethsaida has ranked as high as #10751 nationally, which occurred in 2005, and has been most popular in New York, and California.

In the past 5 years the name Bethsaida has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Bethsaida is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Bethsaida was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Bethsaida.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 7 7
2024 8 8
2023 11 11
2022 9 9
2021 7 7
2020 5 5
2018 9 9
2016 8 8
2015 9 9
2014 11 11
2013 6 6
2012 12 12
2011 7 7
2010 6 6
2009 10 10
2008 8 8
2007 8 8
2006 16 16
2005 18 18
2004 7 7
2002 7 7
2001 7 7
2000 9 9
1999 13 13
1998 6 6
1994 9 9
1991 6 6
1990 8 8
1988 5 5
1987 6 6
1984 8 8
1983 5 5
1982 5 5
1981 6 6
1980 7 7
1976 6 6
1975 6 6
1974 5 5
1973 5 5
1971 8 8
1970 10 10
1967 9 9
1966 5 5
1965 6 6
1958 6 6
1957 8 8

Top States for Bethsaida (1999)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 5
100%